How is West Biofuels Turning Waste Into a Successful Business?
The Energy Transition isn't just a policy agenda — it's one of the greatest business-building opportunities of our time. But turning a cleantech idea into a fundable, scalable company takes more than a good technology. It takes grit, strategic partnerships, and the ability to move through failure toward a breakthrough.
Join us for a candid conversation with Matt Summers and Mackenzie Castruita of West Biofuels. This Sacramento-area company has been quietly doing the hard work: converting waste biomass into low-carbon fuels using a proven thermochemical process, building industry partnerships, and securing the milestones that matter to investors and customers alike.
This isn't a polished pitch. It's a real look at the road they've traveled, the technical hurdles, the funding journey, the strategic decisions, and what other entrepreneurs and energy enthusiasts can take away from it.
You'll want to be in the room if you are:
Building or considering a cleantech or energy startup
An investor or economic development professional tracking where the Energy Transition creates enterprise value
A fleet operator, fuel buyer, or supply chain leader watching the low-carbon fuels market
Simply curious about how hard science gets turned into a working business
West Biofuels has demonstrated that waste-to-fuel technology can move from concept to credible commercial operation. In this session, they'll share what that path actually looked like — and what they wish they'd known sooner.
This event is made possible by the support of SMUD, Chico Start, E2, and The Carlsen Center for Entrepreneurship at Sacramento State — organizations committed to growing the next generation of clean economy businesses in our region.